154 posts categorized "Cycling"

Saturday, 12 August 2017

A fun bike ride, a fun drive, Formula 1 and brilliant weather made for a great ‘long’ weekend!

The Karioi Cycle Classic is a (mostly) gravel road ride from Raglan south along the Whaanga Coast and back on inland roads. It has 43km, 57km or 85km options, which all follow the same route out of Raglan, with different return routes from the coast.

I have driven the Whaanga Coast road before and it is literally world famous as a stage in the WRC Rally NZ. The chance to explore this area on a bicycle was not to be missed. I decided to make it a long weekend so could watch the Hungarian Grand Prix (which starts at midnight Sunday NZ time) and sleep in the next day.

It was my first time for this ride so I chose the middle 57km option and took my hardtail mountain bike. Last time I drove the road—albeit years ago—it was quite muddy, corrugated and thought weeks of rain would have churned it up.

When I saw the 87km peloton go past (as I left my motel headed for our start) I was glad I had not joined them as looked like rather serious racers. Although technically in a race I wasn’t going to be racing, just happy to enjoy the road, the scenery and get around within the 4 hour time limit.

Getting there

I drove down from Auckland on Saturday and checked into the Raglan Palm Beach Motel. It is a bit out of ‘town’, by the estuary, and secluded without being far away. It bills itself as “classic 1970’s “Kiwiana” style self-contained Raglan accommodation” and it was great. Although evidently of that era it was clean, tidy and (with a non-70s heat pump) warm which would become an important factor!

After settling in I biked into town (a whole 1.8km with no traffic via the domain and footbridge) to pick up my race number (tied on with supplied eco-flax instead of plastic cable ties!) and get some groceries. Rather stupidly I had not put one of my many bike water bottles in the car (doh!) so a bottle of sport water had to do.

It was a lovely evening and after exploring Raglan village, a few years since I’ve been there, which is still nice I headed ‘home’.

On the way back I diverted a few km up the road to the coast to check the bike (and rider) were ok for the morning. It was a spectacular sunset; not often you see the Tasman Sea this calm!

Quite a few people were already there and I wasn’t the only one on a bike. A couple had CX bikes, similar to the Avanti I’d left at home, a sign of things to come.

Late Saturday evening I watched the F1 Qualifying, with Ferrari getting the front row! The motel didn’t have Sky but good Wi-Fi meant streaming was OK—beamed to the TV from my phone via my Microsoft Display adapter (like Chromecast but works with any app)—on the Sky Go app. It used to be terrible but worked well keeping me connected to F1 over the weekend.

A bit too much coffee, Whitakers 70% chocolate and, maybe, anticipation of the day ahead meant when I finally turned off the telly about 1:30am I didn’t get much sleep!

A fine ‘Race’ day

The morning dawned fine, still and literally (for a soft northerner) freezing. My phone’s reported “2ºc, feels like 0ºc” was no lie based on the layer of ice on the motel picnic table and kayaks!

It’s the first time I’ve worn a 200 Icebreaker merino thermal top, from the Tibet cycle wardrobe, under a cycle shirt all day in New Zealand!

Leggings, winter gloves and merino liners inside Sealskin, water/windproof, socks and a light wind/rainshell kept the cold at bay on the way into town for the start!

I started at the back of the 84 rider 57km pack. I wasn’t going to be racing and don’t really like riding in the middle of a group. The first few km out of town, with well traffic controlled but still open roads, were led by a pilot vehicle before we got the closed gravel roads.

The first climb was steady and no wind meant had to shed the wind-shell at the top as was getting too warm. The views were just stunning, full credit to whoever organised this weather after weeks of rain!

As the photos show the road was really good! I should have put my CX bike in the car!

The course follows the coast before heading inland. It was a real joy, and a first for me, riding on closed gravel roads. You could pick a line that best suited the heavily cambered corners without the worry of meeting a car coming the other way!

I remember standing on this corner (below) watching rally cars blasting past, having seen them come all the way up (or down depending which year) the valley from the coast. It is a great place to watch rally cars at speeds much faster than Robin on a bike could manage!

First sign of Raglan in the distance but this wasn’t the last hill. My Strava app recorded 1267m elevation gain over the day. By now it was reasonably warm but I couldn’t be bothered shedding the thermal as it was mostly downhill to the finish.

I was evidently happy to see that it was all downhill from this photo stop. The riders in the background are from the 43km event, all but a few of the 57’ers were ahead of me!

Some snaps from the finish and a packed prize giving later in Raglan. No prizes for me (81/84) but the ride had more than met my expectations.

Exploring the way home

After staying up until 02:30am Monday again watching the Hungarian Grand Prix I appreciated the motels offer of a late checkout. I was in no rush to get home so took a rather indirect route exploring the back roads between Raglan & Port Waikato. If I have been through there before I can’t remember it!

A mix of twisty sealed and smooth swept gravel (apart for a few km in the middle of being graded) made for a lovely drive. It would also be a great ride; maybe next year I should ride down to the ride!

Although a few clouds had arrived the weather was still great. Being a work Monday meant the roads, beach and river were largely deserted. A great way to finish a stunning weekend.

Monday, 29 May 2017

I had a “lifestyle leave” day off work today. It’s a great initiative where you ‘buy’ five or ten days extra holiday (with a pay reduction) to use however you want. Part of changing jobs is you go back to zero leave owing so it was a good way to get some extra discretionary leave.

For me that meant sitting up until 2:30am watching the Monaco Grand Prix, sleeping (some dozing) in until about 8:30am, a leisurely breakfast watching the America’s Cup and a bit of Indy 500 (recorded that morning), an afternoon bike ride, and evening dog walk.

I had intended to ride out to Piha, on the West Coast, as it is a lovely ride but rather too busy, with narrow twisty roads, in the weekend or on public holidays. However the remnants of a head cold meant the 3 x 350m climbs (there & home via Karekare) would have been a bit much so I just did a, much flatter, random Westie tour.

I tested out the cross country (CX) capability of the new bike a little by incorporating the Te Atatu foreshore gravel path, a loop through Massey checking out an option for my morning commute, and home via Swanson & Henderson Valley.

The Massey bit was trying a short park path from Huruhuru Rd to Redwood Drive that will avoid climbing Makora Rd. It doesn’t avoid a hill, Redwood is much steeper, but misses the narrow busy parts of Makora Rd (from the motorway off ramp to the right turn at the top) and Royal Rd motorway on-ramp traffic.

After I got home faced a CX bike dilemma. Do you leave the bit of mud picked up riding off path in Te Atatu (to give right of way to some walkers) as ‘CX cred’ or clean it? I cleaned it!

As Alfie had missed his morning walk I took him around the block this evening, lovely clear night!

It's no secret that New Zealand is blessed with an abundance of natural beauty. Anyone that's visited the country's South Island will tell you about the diversity of terrain, from soaring peaks to alpine lakes and from lush rainforest to open plains.

CyclingTips' Jonathan Reece and Andy van Bergen recently visited the region of Canterbury in New Zealand's South Island with photographer Tim Bardsley-Smith to ride the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail, a 300km mostly-off-road cycling trail from the slopes of New Zealand's highest mountain, Aoraki/Mount Cook, right out to the Pacific Ocean at Oamaru. This is the story of their journey.

Sunday, 30 April 2017

I’m not really a gear freak, as will become apparent, but decided it was time for a new bike. How hard could that be…

What did I want, why?

My dear (as in endearing, not expensive) old Avanti Triplo is nearly 15 years old. It was a pretty modest bike even when new, ~$1600 back then, but I still like riding it. With the Waitakere Ranges at my back door I never regretted going for a 21 (3x7) speed with ‘grannie gears’. I’m not a racer and it suited me fine but the technology has moved on in a few key areas.

It’s an all alloy bike and NZ has increasing use of coarse chip tarmac. On alloy with 23c tyres (running 80-100psi) there’s quite a bit of vibration and having ridden carbon fork bikes I appreciate the difference. ‘Rapid Rob’—my Giant Talon 1 MTB—introduced me to the precision, power, and wet/dry stopping ability of hydraulic disc brakes so they were a must.

Other than that the old Triplo is spec fine for my needs so I set out to find a similar successor. I’m not a racer and although prefer drop bars was looking for a more robust tourer/cross country spec (grannie gears) than all out race/sprint bike. I have a Rapid Rob for the really rough stuff but it would be great if it could take on an occasional gravel road/bike path (or Auckland arterial route pot holes) without wilting, yet still offer decent performance.

I’ll keep the Triplo, it is worth literally nothing and sentimental value means it has earned a place in my garage.

Sizing up the options

After a bit of tyre kicking (just looking while buying other bits n pieces over the last few months) and a whole lot more web searching I settled on one of these three:

The Avanti was more in the price range I wanted. For the type of riding I do a carbon frame isn’t essential, not worth an extra $1200 for the Giant even if it would brand align with Rapid Rob! Part of my reservation was also the design. I just don’t think the current Giant graphics or drop rear stay/seat post frame junction look very elegant.

The Trek is a better bike than the Avanti, probably a bit lighter, and very elegant. The component spec was similar but I doubt the frame was worth the $1000 difference for me. However I’ve ridden a lot of kilometres on an Adventure South Trek (below) and really liked it so was interested in getting another opinion.

Some friendly advice from a Pro

I sent the spec’s to my cycle tour guide/mechanic mate. He knows me, knows how I ride, and I was surprised by an observation that had totally eluded me.

It was his concern about the reliability of lightly built wheels combined with additional stresses of disc, hub rather than rim, braking. That led him to recommending (much to my surprise) the Avanti that I’d been favouring on price/spec alone.

So the AR 2 seemed a good bet. The only other thing I had to get my head around was the VERY YELLOW, like it or not, colour but I guess I could live with that.

So, lets go shopping…

Avanti Shop 1

They had a cheaper AR 1 model (similar but mechanical brakes) on display. I had called in there a couple of weeks ago to get some chain oil and seeing it was partly responsible for this whole exercise.

After a bit of a chat, yes I was interested in the AR 2 model, no I didn’t really care to have a carbon frame, yes 105 was fine for me, yes I was looking to spend around $2k they suggested another bike. It was $3200 carbon frame/105 Scott they had in stock. An attempt to up-sell to a price/spec I didn’t want. After getting past that we got back to talking about the AR 2:

Me: “Can you get one for me to look at? I am serious but don’t want to commit $2k on a bike without seeing it, trying it?”

S: “Well, it is a bit of a rare bike, if we get it in we have to buy it, then we could be stuck with it… I’d put you on that AR 1 but that is a large… too big for you…”Me: “Would anyone else (other Avanti dealers) have one I could look at?”

S: “You could try the other stores…”

I work for a company with a division that sells bikes, in direct competition to Avanti, but it didn’t really factor into this purchase. They sell Giant and Trek but I had come to the conclusion, staff discount aside, they weren’t the right bikes for me. I did disclose this during the conversation. Maybe they didn’t believe I was serious when told I had decided in favour of the AR 2 irrespective of that? So it was back on the faithful old Triplo and off to…

Avanti Shop 2

It was a similar story, a few questions about my needs but no attempt at an up-sell, until we got to the sticky question of ‘have you got one’:

S: “No but I might be able to get one, not sure if I’m supposed to [which I thought an odd comment but it was not the owner/manager I was talking to] but can probably do that. What size do you want?”

Me: [thinking I’m standing here having just got off a bike, surely you could judge?] “Not sure, the web site said S/M based on my height but… I have short legs and more normal arms so reach is more a factor”

S: “Well, all the geometry is on the Avanti web site, I’d suggest you compare that to your current bike, decide the size, then we can see if we can get the one you want.”

Me: [thinking this is rather odd, bike fit is one huge advantage a physical store has over the web. If I do all the measure and selection why not just buy a bike on-line and forget about the store?] “Um, ok”

So I got on the faithful old Triplo and cycled home.

At this point I was rather mystified…

I really thought if someone cycled to your bike shop on an old (but obviously well maintained) bike, walked in and said I am seriously interested in buying a particular bike, I’ve researched and discounted the opposition, I probably want (if it fits) to spend a couple of grand it would generate some real interest in getting a sale?

One last try…

Avanti Shop 3 was not on my route so I emailed them a day later.

Me: “I’m interested in the AR 2, the website says SM/MD is probably the right size, do you have one in stock I could try”

S3: replied by email8 minutes later: “No, but we have a ex-demo AR C1 in stock that size. It has similar spec componentry to the AR 2 but is a higher spec carbon frame version. We can offer you a [very attractive] deal on that if interested.

Me: “Yes, very interested”

The result

They were happy to hold it until I could get over there the following Saturday but a work meeting nearby (booked weeks ago, honest!) meant I got there on Thursday. The first ride was pretty brief, just a lap of the carpark wearing long trousers tucked into socks and dress shoes! It was enough to know the fit was right and decide I wanted it.

So that’s how I am the happy owner of a not new Avanti AR C1. It has a carbon frame (other spec all but identical to the AR 2) but the price was so close to the alloy AR 2 it didn’t really matter. I had to drive across town, versus a store near home or work, but having someone show real interest made that no real hassle.

Although I had accepted that the VERY YELLOW AR 2 would be ok this one is a rather elegant natural carbon black with red accents. It had a few cosmetic scratches (heel strikes on the rear chain stays) but they are easily sorted. At least I’ll never have that awful new bike first scratch drama to go through!

First (real) Ride

I picked up some accessories and spent Sunday morning fitting them. A flash (for me) Cateye computer with cadence, slim black Bontrager bottle cages and small black Leznye Road Drive pump (because the silver one off my Triplo would just look wrong!). I touched up the scratches and swapped my favourite (but far from exotic) BBB saddle and Keywin pedals over from the Triplo.

An impulse purchase, in a web sale a few months back, bike work stand makes this sort of tuning much more pleasant! The entry hall isn’t a permanent location, just had better light than the garage on a gloomy day, but made a nice workshop!

My first ride had quite a few stops adjusting the saddle location & height. It was a local route with some road, concrete bike path (Henderson Park), a bit of gravel shared path (Te Atatu, seen in photos below) and even a few hundred metres of soft wet grass as I shortcut from the bike path back to Te Atatu road.

Overall I’m really happy. The 22 (11x2) speed gears are close to what I’m used to in terms of spread but swapping between two (rather than three) front cogs makes managing shifts a bit simpler. The ride is the real difference; 32c tyres and carbon frame mean much less vibration on rough surfaces or those timber bike path sections with alloy traction strips.

I did a few practice ‘emergency stops” from 40-50km/h and the brakes are amazing. Two fingers can stand the thing on its nose. To get the best of the brakes/traction you have to slide back off the saddle, mountain bike style, to prevent a front wheel stand!

Overall it rolls much like a decent road bike, feels nice and stiff when you crank it up, is responsive in the turns but has much more grip, stopping power and softer ride than a pure racer. The only change I might make is a shorter reach stem, as I did on the Triplo all those years ago, but will give it more time to be sure. Now I just have to think of a name for it…

So, what about the local bike shop?

I really do wonder about the plight of the neighbourhood bike shop. Between the internet and major retailers I know they have an incredibly tough time. But the last week or so has made me wonder, do some really want the business at all?

The impression I got is they only want to sell the bike they have in stock, if it is not right for you they are not really interested. I wonder if that is driven by tight margins or limited supplier stock to call on?

It is rather ironic that I ended up buying a bike off the floor because two other stores didn’t stock the bike I wanted or seem very interested in getting it. In the end, they did me a favour…

Wednesday, 08 March 2017

Looking at the forecast I think Friday might be another “Seal Skinz* rule!” day. 100% chance of rain and thunder storms.

On well, soaking wet, riding an alloy bike, over a high’ish (300m) hill, in a thunder storm…

What could possibly go wrong?!

* Seal Skinz are brilliant waterproof socks

On March 10 I’m cycling from Ruakaka to Wellsford to help raise funds for Plunket NZ. It is a small part of a Cape Reinga to Bluff fundraising cycle ride The Warehouse are supporting.

Plunket is New Zealand's largest provider of support services for the development, health and wellbeing of children under 5. Plunket works together with families and communities, to ensure the best start for every child.

A loop from home into the city, ferry to Devonport, along East Coast Bays then back via Coatesville and Massey proved the old bicycle will be fine, its rider… well… probably…

It was 86km according to the bike odometer, 89km on Strava because I forgot to turn it off on the ferry! My speed was about 20km/h according to the bike, a rather slower 17km/h on Strava due to some food stops and too much time watching a cool water flyboard thing at Browns Bay. I have since discovered auto-pause on Strava Android to remedy that!

The forecast is for a wet ride, donations (whatever you can manage is appreciated) at:

On March 10 I’m cycling from Ruakaka to Wellsford* (the red line below) to help raise funds for Plunket NZ. It is a small part of a Cape Reinga to Bluff fundraising cycle ride The Warehouse are supporting.

Plunket is New Zealand's largest provider of support services for the development, health and wellbeing of children under 5. Plunket works together with families and communities, to ensure the best start for every child.

Whānau āwhina - caring for families.

* I’m also cycling from Wellsford to Ruakaka (the blue line) but that is just to get back to my car! Going via the coast to avoid the state highway traffic and riding up the Brenderwyn Hill (~300m high) twice in a day!

Wednesday, 01 March 2017

On March 10 I’m cycling from Ruakaka to Wellsford* (the red line below) to help raise funds for Plunket NZ. It is a small part of a Cape Reinga to Bluff fundraising cycle ride The Warehouse are supporting.

Plunket is New Zealand's largest provider of support services for the development, health and wellbeing of children under 5. Plunket works together with families and communities, to ensure the best start for every child.

* I’m also cycling from Wellsford to Ruakaka (the blue line) but that is just to get back to my car! Going via the coast to avoid the state highway traffic and riding up the Brenderwyn Hill (~300m high) twice in a day!

What is Pedal for Plunket?

The Pedal for Plunket relay supports caring for kids in our communities. More than 120 team members from The Warehouse, Plunket and other supporters will take to our roads to cycle the length of New Zealand.

Riders will call into local Warehouse stores to join in-store activities and events as they ride down the country. Check out your local The Warehouse store to see what they have planned to support the riders as they come through and feel free to join in! You can check where our riders are each day along the relay or view the full course map here.

We're supporting connected communities

Significant numbers of New Zealand families and whānau have complex needs and limited access to the basic necessities of life. Plunket and The Warehouse want to ensure all New Zealanders have the opportunity to feel connected within their community. Being connected means having the opportunities and the means for families and whānau to come together within their community to provide a safer, better place for children to grow up.

The 2017 Pedal for Plunket relay supports this connection to our communities by raising funds and providing opportunities for family and whānau to be together in their community.

Saturday, 18 February 2017

'Rapid Rob' won’t be quite as rapid but will be a bit more versatile for short tours and (maybe) commuting. Got an accessory I should of had for Tibet, no more riding with a back pack!

A beam rack, bag (including little fold out panniers for a bit more space) with nice quick release mount and side frames. Having used fiddley strap fastened bags before I was impressed with Topeak’s QuickTrack™ dovetail slide system. Have had one of their saddle bags with the same system for years.

It is not up to real touring (9kg max) but fine for short rides or a bit of shopping. Good thing is it also (just) fits on my road bike!